Quinn unloads on Iginla for hit that took Souray out of game

EDMONTON -- Dirty isn't usually a word associated with the classy Jarome Iginla.

But after he tripped Sheldon Souray early in the second period, sending the Oilers defenceman sprawling face-first into the end boards, he may have sullied his reputation.

Oilers head coach Pat Quinn unloaded both barrels on him after a game in which Souray left with a mild concussion and didn't return.

"I don't understand the players of today," Quinn said. "If that had happened in the old days, he would have got hit over the head with a stick right after. That's the way you used to deal with it, now you can't touch him.

"It was a pretty dirty play, in my opinion. You poke his feet out and then pile up on top of him.

"Somehow, they never deal with that crap and they won't let the vigilante deal with it."

Soon after the play, Oilers captain Ethan Moreau challenged Iginla to a fight, which the Flames captain accepted. It was a short-lived tussle as Moreau lost his balance and the linesmen stepped in.

"Fighting him is not addressing it," Quinn said. "In the era I come from, you deal with dirt, with dirt, you don't give him honour. Why would you give him honour? He honoured him with a fist fight, so I don't know."

Iginla claimed it was unintentional.

"I wasn't going for the puck, I was just trying to hold him and ride him into the boards like they do 100 times," Iginla said. "I didn't mean to that at all. I felt bad that he went in, but I went in pretty hard too and was a little dazed. It was freaky play and I definitely didn't mean to do that.

"He's an honest player and I didn't mean to hit him from behind."

Iginla was assessed a two-minute minor on the play, while Souray had to be helped off the ice and did not return to the contest due to a mild concussion.

"I think he stepped on my stick, I didn't mean to get it in there," Iginla said. "We both went flying in. I hope he'll be all right."

Other Oilers were more forgiving of a player who is known for his class.

"Everybody knows what type of player Jarome is. He's a pretty honest guy," Moreau said. "It's an unfortunate thing and you don't like to see that happen."